Miss Vermont
Sarah Watson
What is your hometown like?
Enosburgh is a rural town of 5,000 located in the Champlain Valley between the northern Green Mountains and Lake Champlain. Only 10 minutes from Canada, rolling hills, cornfields and grazing Holstein cows are typical scenery in this dairy capital of Vermont. Living here means access to great outdoor activities, a close-knit community and lots of privacy and open space. For city life, Montreal and Boston are nearby, and Vermont's largest city, Burlington, is a one-hour drive south.
What were you like when you were a child?
As a child, I was (and still am) very curious, always asking how things work or why things are the way they are. I was also a good mix of little girl and tomboy. After taking ballet for three years, I switched to ice hockey!
Who is the most influential person in your life?
My mom. Because of her influence, I am graceful under pressure, I think before I speak and I'm better prepared to handle all the little unexpected things in life. (And I can cook, clean and do my own laundry.)
What is one thing about you that people you meet may not immediately realize?
That I am Miss Vermont 2006. I am a very down-to-earth person who's not afraid to get my nails dirty. (Or get grease all over my favorite shorts like I did recently while flying an airplane.) There are so many misconceptions about what constitutes a pageant girl, and I am proud to be changing some of them in the people I meet every day.
What was one defining moment in your life?
Becoming a homeschooler in second grade was a major turning point in my life. I spent my school years with the world as my classroom and now realize that it is my classroom for the rest of my life.
What was one defining moment in your life?
I have only competed in one pageant. I focused on having fun and being the best possible representation of myself, not on winning. Becoming Miss Vermont 2006 reinforced my belief that the best way to succeed or win in life is to just be yourself and remember that little accomplishments and personal growth are just as important as big wins.
What was one defining moment in your life?
I believe that health is not just the absence of disease, but complete physical, emotional and spiritual wellness, and the way we communicate with people influences their health. Once Americans understand the correlation between these factors, we can take steps towards truly improving health in our country. As Miss America 2007, I will educate and exemplify how, every day, we can improve the health of those around us through the healing power of words.
